Organic mental disorders: Psychological behavioral abnormalities associated with a dysfunction of the brain. History and physical examination or laboratory test demonstrate the presence of  specific organic factor judged to be etiologicall related to the abnormal mental state and loss of previously acqired functional abilities.

The required level of severity of these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.

A. Demonstration of a loss of specific cognitive abilities or affective changes and the medicall documented persistance of ONE of the following:
1. Disorientation to time and place; or
2 Memory impairment, either short-term {inability to learn new information}, intermediate, or long-term {inability to remember information that was known sometime in the past}; or
3. Perceptual or thinking disturbances {e.g., {hallucinations, delusions}; or
4. Change in personality; or
5. Disturbance in mood; or
6. Emotional liability {e.g., explosive temper outbursts, sudden crying, etc.} and impairment in impulse control; or
7. Loss of measured intellectual ability of at least 15 I.Q. points from premorbid levels or overall impairment index clearly within the severly impaired range on neuropstchological testing, e.g., Luria-Nebraska, Halstead-Reitan, etc;

AND

B. Resulting in at least TWO of the following:
1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or
4 Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;

OR

C. Medically documented history of a chronic organic mental disorder of at least 2 years' duration the has caused more than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs currently attenuated by medication or psychosocial support, and ONE of the following:
1. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration; or
2. A residual disease process that has resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate; or
3. Current history of 1 or more years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement.

12.03 SCHIZOPHRENIC, PARANOID, AND OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS: (definition) Charachterized by the onset of psychotic features with deterioration from a previous level of functioning.

The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.

A. Medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittant, of One or More of the following:

 1. Delusions or hallucinations; or
 2. Catatonic or other grossly disorganized behavior; or
 3. Incoherence, loosening of associations, illogical thinking, or poverty of content of speech if associated with ONE of the following:
   a. Blunt affect; or
   b. Flat affect; or
   c. Inappropriate affect.
 4. Emotional withdraal and/or isolation.

AND

B. Resulting in at least TWO of the following:
 1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
 2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
 3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or
 4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;

OR

C. Medically documented history of a chronic schizophrenic, paranoid, or other psychotic disorder of at least 2 years' duration that has caused more than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs currently attenuated by medcation or psychosocial support, and ONE of the following:
 1. Repeated episodes of decompensation; or
 2. A residual disease process tha has resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate; or
 3. Current history of 1 or more years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement.



Posted: Nov. 24 2004,12:46  

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12.04 AFFECTIVE DISORDERS (definition):
Characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation.

The required level for severity of these disorders is met when the requirements in bot A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.

A. Medically documented persistance, either continuous or intermittant, of ONE of the following:

1. Depressive syndrome charaterized by at least FOUR of the following:
a. Anheddonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or
b.Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or
c. Sleep disturbance; or
d. Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or
e. Decreased energy; or
f. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or
g. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or
h. Thoughts of suicide; or
i. Hallucinations; or

2. Manic syndrome characterized by at least THREE of the following:
a. Hyper activity,; or
b. Pressure of speech; or
c. Flight of ideas; or
d. Inflated self esteem; or
e. Decreased need for sleep; or
f. Easy distractibility; or
g. Involvment in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences which are not recognized; or
h. Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking; or
3. Bipolar syndrome with a hisory of episodic periods manifested by the full symptomatic picture of both manic and depressive syndromes (and currently characterized by either or both syndromes);

AND

B. Resulting in at least TWO of the following:
1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistance, or pace; or
4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;

OR

C. Medically documented history of a chronic affective disorder of at least 2 years' duration that has caused mre than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or sins currently attenuated by medication or psychococial support, and ONE of the following:
1. Repeated episodes of decompensation, and each of extended duration; or
2. A residual disease process that has resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate; or
3. Current history of 1 or mor years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement.